Worst Sports Books in Vegas . . .

This is a good thread. I always like reading other people's opinions and stories on Vegas. I live in So Cal and get to Vegas every couple of months and I always, always end up at Bill's for the cheap hold em and because the tables are conveniently located next to the book. I always throw the server $5 right off the bat for drinks and she comes back frequently after that because everyone else is usually cheap and give her the 50 cent pieces from the hold em tables. Then they wonder why she doesn't come back frequently.

The MGM is a nice book but it is too narrow and passerby can definitely get in the way.

Lagasse's is nice to watch a game at and get some decent food. I could see that place being packed during football season though.

I definitely want to check out the Tropicana. I haven't been there since their renovation.

My favorite book though isn't on the strip, it's at Red Rock. That place is nice. Good, frequent in game wagering announcements. The book is clean for the most part with good seating. Bar and restrooms aren't far away. They do give out drink tickets for sports wagers, every $50 I believe. TV's everywhere with every game on. Can't complain about that. However, if I were staying on the strip I wouldn't head over there at all. Just too far.

I can add some background information on some of the books. I spent a decade working in the executive offices for MGM/Palms/Harrahs.

The first thing to know about sports books is that if it was up to corporate. The books would be shut down and replaced by slot machines. Slots make more money per square foot. The worst thing to corporate is that sometimes the customers win and that isn't supposed to happen.

Harrah's/Rio not only refuse to remodel their books. They also have had sports writers pulled on Sunday morning to keep the number of bets down. They want the long lines because it means more money bet per employee hour. This is part of the bonus structure. If some customers don't like....so what. The people with Harrah's parlay cards will stay in line because the cards are already filled in. The straight bets will walk across the street. The hold on parlay cards is substantially higher than straight bets.

Horse racing is different. It a para-mutual setup so the house knows it will make money. If you go into several books you will see a lot of the book dedicated to racing.

Books that I like in Vegas.

Aria is a good place to watch a game. I don't there because MGM usually has some of the worst odds on baseball. If you want in game betting then try the Cosmopolitan ( a tiny book on the second floor) or the Venetian. Last time I was in Vegas I this is the book I spent most of my time.

The important thing is to separate where you watch the game from where you bet. Take advantage of the mobile betting and setup a couple of accounts. Then just spend your time in the book you like . The Coast Casinos have cheap dogs and beer. The Aria/Bellagio/Venetian have nice seating.

I can add some background information on some of the books. I spent a decade working in the executive offices for MGM/Palms/Harrahs.

The first thing to know about sports books is that if it was up to corporate. The books would be shut down and replaced by slot machines. Slots make more money per square foot. The worst thing to corporate is that sometimes the customers win and that isn't supposed to happen.

Harrah's/Rio not only refuse to remodel their books. They also have had sports writers pulled on Sunday morning to keep the number of bets down. They want the long lines because it means more money bet per employee hour. This is part of the bonus structure. If some customers don't like....so what. The people with Harrah's parlay cards will stay in line because the cards are already filled in. The straight bets will walk across the street. The hold on parlay cards is substantially higher than straight bets.

Horse racing is different. It a para-mutual setup so the house knows it will make money. If you go into several books you will see a lot of the book dedicated to racing.

Books that I like in Vegas.

Aria is a good place to watch a game. I don't there because MGM usually has some of the worst odds on baseball. If you want in game betting then try the Cosmopolitan ( a tiny book on the second floor) or the Venetian. Last time I was in Vegas I this is the book I spent most of my time.

The important thing is to separate where you watch the game from where you bet. Take advantage of the mobile betting and setup a couple of accounts. Then just spend your time in the book you like . The Coast Casinos have cheap dogs and beer. The Aria/Bellagio/Venetian have nice seating.

ive only been to vegas twice but i bet sports at bellagio, mirage, wynn, and tropicana...i actually spent a whole day in bellagios sportsbook (11am-8pm) and that was the best one of the 4...the seats were comfy and i liked the desktop you could fold down to spread out papers/write things down/hold your drink/whatever. i was never asked for a drink ticket, they just kept coming. i met people from everywhere and had a blast with people i just met. its right around the corner from the poker room and big enough.

Interesting info, vegasim. I really believe that Harrahs really isn't interested in sports betting. Their slot business is great. Every time I walk through there, the slot area is packed with old bittys pulling away.

But Cesars accross the street seems interested in sports. They have a large airy book that attracts big action.

I agree, sportsbooks don't perform anywhere close to slots. But they are needed as the wifey with the big slot habit may have a sports-betting husband.

1. Tropicana. It's well designed with state-of-the-art screens and managers who will switch them fast depending on the action, It's a cantor book so the tables have much info especially for horse betttors like win, place and show pools. Plus its only a 3-minute walk to MGM's book and a 5-minute walk to Hooters book for price shopping.

2. Venetian. Also a cantor book, the atmosphere is loud on college saturdays and NFL sundays. The screens are top notch. The big negative about the Trop and Venetian is their drink comps are stingy. Keep that in mind.

3. Cesars. A big airy book that draws enthusiastic crowds, probably because Cesars has such a divers clientele. What that means is that Cesars isn't an upscale property, it's more middle-class filled with people who like to think their upscale. But that's what makes it comfortable and fun.

4. Palazzo. Legasse's stadium is certainly unique. It's like being in the downstairs den. If you've never been there, give it a look.

5. Monte Carlo. I watched a soccer game here one time and it was fun (I didnt have a bet, but there were large crowds rooting for Mexico against Brazil). The design of the book is nice and comfortable.

It's been forever since I've been to the El Cortez but I do remember they had the best money lines on NFL games I'd ever seen, sometimes a full dime better than the major casinos. And they let you parlay unlimited amounts of underdogs if you're into that. The El Cortez is a place where insiders go to get value. Watch the games somewhere else.

The El Cortez! Mu ha ha ha ha ha..I was there once a long time ago..I asked the manager why the patterns in the carpets were moving and he said, and I swear.."We have carpet lice" or "mites" or something like that...

Promark12. You are right about Caesars. The reason it is well kept is that it was a premier book when Harrahs bought it. They already had a large database of high end players that fly in for the SB and March Madness. These guys play everything and bring in family/friends that gamble.

The book started to get rundown a few years ago but Caesars was able to convince corp that the publicity that it generates for the company is worth it. So Harrah's has one nice book to get it's name in all the papers and TV. They look at it as a loss-lead. There is a reason that William Hill and Cantor are taking over most of the books in Nevada. The casinos would like the same type of deal that they have with slot machines. Most of the machines on the floor aren't owned by the casino. They lease and do a rev share with the maker. This is how the race book is set up. Poker has the same general concept with a "rake".

When the corp accountants took over it all became about minimizing risk. It is funny that the same accountants who have a heart attack if the customers win on the Super Bowl were able to sign off on all of the over building that ran the casinos into deep debt and near bankruptcy.

stayed out in vegas for a few months. didnt care too much for the higher end casinos (on the strip). just didnt feel comfortable. but where i did hang out a lot at was The Orleans! cheap tables, pretty waitresses, fair odds, and cigarettes and drinks were free as long as you played. just a comfy lil spot. also went to hilton a lot for horse racing. that place was just alright.

Hey everybody this is my first post. Moved to vegas in September and started getting real serious about betting football. Im addicted to the numbers and stats lol garbage its fun! Ok here is my fav place to enjoy the games.

STRATOSPHERE- for the NFL season there is no better place in Vegas to enjoy the games on sunday all day(beside home in your pj's) The strat located at the end of the strip opens its theater room located upstairs past all the shops every sunday for the nfl season. They have 8 huge tv's(prob 7ft tall or bigger) the first 3 levels is booth seating and bottom layer in front is all tables w/chairs. None smoking, but right outside the theater is allowed. Even better they bring the sportsbook up there for wagers and they bring a few BJ tables in for the people that just cant get enough action[dealers are very nice eye candy]. I would recommend getting there when the doors open 9am, the booths fill up fast. The best hidden gem out there.

HARDROCK- Cantor Gaming is where I placed bets. They always had the best lines usually half or full point better then anywhere else[i said usually] get an account and you can bet from your phone.

ARIA- its a good place to watch games they have VERY comfortable seating all lounge style chairs w/great cushions. There can be a lot of smoke at times and very very busy during football season. Lot of ladies which is nice. Just seeing a bunch of angry ugly behind dudes can get annoying[no offense to the ugly angry guys on here]. The food is pretty spendy though of course most strip casinos are. I would bring my own drinks water, gatorade, etc.

I am the same way...I live in Las Vegas and never ever go to the strip. I have a small litlle bar/casino just down the street from me, which has a sports book in it. They are now affiliated with William Hill sports book, so there payouts on some parlays have changed. This little bar has 10 TV's and on Sat and Sun the locals pick what games are on which tv, that way where we sit we can see the games we have action on. The sports book does not have the electronic boards or anything like that, they still write the odds up on a big white board, but the guys that work the book are good. They have actually made me money by telling me to change a bet from what I have to another way to play it, on parlays that is.

I know that people that do not live here do not get the luxury of picking out different books to bet at, but when you live here you learn quickly where to go.

what you all should do is check out Cantor gaming or william hill. both offer mobile wagering inside the state of Nevada and you can make deposits easily around town. For all you california drivers your best bet is at the M resort on the way into town for Cantor. Make your deposit and download your app (iphone, ipad, android). If you fly in to town try williamhill.us and you can make a deposit at the tropicana or ellis island. Then you can watch the game and bet wherever you want; even if you're dropping the deuce you can get your in-game wagering on. Check them out online, then think about it the next time you're in line. This way if you score one of the 20 year old zombies out of drais you can still get your bet on.

Activities offered by advertising links to other sites may be deemed an illegal activity in certain jurisdictions. Viewers are specifically warned that they should inquire into the legality of participating in any games and/or activities offered by such other sites. The owner of this website assumes no responsibility for the actions by and makes no representation or endorsement of any of these games and/or activities offered by the advertiser. As a condition of viewing this website viewers agree to hold the owner of this website harmless from any claims arising from the viewer’s participation in any of the games and/or activities offered by the advertiser.